Trail

Publisher's WeeklyThis competent but uninspired historical novel (Charbonneau's 17th book) follows the famous 1904-06 expedition up the Missouri River, across the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains and down the Columbia River to the Pacific. As sources Charbonneau uses the journals of Lewis and Clark and others, veering away from fact only to provide fictional journal entries of George Shannon, a young recruit to the ''cause'' of the expedition, and frequent detailed passages written from the point of view of Lewis's Newfoundland dog, Seaman--who offers the only respite from a rather dry rendition of the journey. In fact, Seaman emerges as one of the novel's few convincing characters, along with Sacajawea, a pregnant young Indian woman, and her white husband (oddly, named Charbonneau), both of whom join the party as interpreters. Lewis and Clark remain nearly indistinguishable as characters. Charbonneau's straightforward style and attention to the details of the historic trek carry but do not propel us through the hefty book. (Oct.)

Library JournalOne of the more legendary exploits in American history was the search for a land route to the Pacific, masterminded by the remarkable Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. What many don't know is that there was a third member of that illustrious party; not the famed Sacajawea, but Lewis's intrepid dog, Seaman. Trail is a dual tale, with as much space given to Seaman's thoughts and actions as to Lewis's, almost like a book within a book. Charbonneau is a good storyteller, with a nice descriptive style, and those interested in dog lore will probably enjoy Trail . Others might wish that this Newfoundland's story had been diminished.-- Lydia Burruel Johnson, Mesa P.L., Ariz.